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HelpTest Code IL6DX Interleukin-6, Serum
Specimen Required
Collection Container/Tube: Serum gel
Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial
Useful For
Evaluating patients with suspected chronic inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, or inflammatory bowel disease
Evaluating patients with Castleman disease
Evaluating patients with suspected systemic infection
Evaluating patients with suspected localized infection, specifically prosthetic joint infection
Assisting in identifying severe inflammatory response in patients with confirmed COVID-19 illness to aid in determining the risk of intubation with mechanical ventilation, in conjunction with clinical findings and the results of other laboratory testing
Method Name
Immunoenzymatic
Reporting Name
Interleukin-6, SSpecimen Type
SerumSpecimen Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 14 days | |
| Frozen | 90 days | ||
| Ambient | 24 hours |
Reference Values
< 6.4 pg/mL
Interpretation
Elevated concentrations of interleukin 6 may indicate an ongoing inflammatory response and could be consistent with a systemic infection, localized infection, or chronic inflammatory disease.
Clinical Reference
1. Scheller J, Chalaris A, Schmidt-Arras D, Rose-John S: The pro- and anti-inflammatory properties of the cytokine interleukin-6. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2011 May;1813(5):878-888
2. Tsalik E, Jaggers B, Glickman SW, et al: Discriminative value of inflammatory biomarkers for suspected sepsis. J Emerg Med. 2012 Jul;43(1):97-106
3. Berbari E, Mabry T, Tsaras G, et al: Inflammatory blood laboratory levels as markers of prosthetic joint infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2010 Sep 1;92(11):2102-2109
4. Gabay C: Interleukin-6 and chronic inflammation. Arthritis Res Ther. 2006;8 Suppl 2:S3
5. Smolen JS, Beaulieu A, Rubbert-Roth A, et al: Effect of interleukin-6 receptor inhibition with tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (OPTION study): a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Lancet. 2008 Mar;371(9617):987-997
6. Yoshizaki K, Murayama S, Ito H, Koga T: The Role of interleukin-6 in Castleman disease. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2018 Feb;32(1):23-36. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2017.09.003
7. Sarosiek S, Shah R, Munshi NC: Review of siltuximab in the treatment of multicentric Castleman's disease. Ther Adv Hematol. 2016 Dec;7(6):360-366. doi: 10.1177/2040620716653745
8. Chen F, Teachey DT, Pequignot E, et al: Measuring IL-6 and sIL-6R in serum from patients treated with tocilizumab and/or siltuximab following CAR T cell therapy. J Immunol Methods. 2016 Jul;434:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jim.2016.03.005
9. Gubernatororova EO, Gorshkova EA, Polinova AI, Drutskava MS: IL-6: Relevance for immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 2020 Jun;53:13-24
10. Ashrafzadeh-Kian S, Campbell MR, Jara Aguirre JC, et al: Role of immune mediators in predicting hospitalization of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Cytokine. 2022 Feb;150:155790. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2021.155790
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Saturday
Report Available
1 to 3 daysPerforming Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test has received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.CPT Code Information
83529
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| IL6DX | Interleukin-6, S | 26881-3 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| IL6DX | Interleukin-6, S | 26881-3 |